Tweet Up with 140 Characters in Ulverston

Twitter enthusiasts are encouraged come out in force to make Ulverston’s latest Tweet Up the biggest in the UK.

The Tweet Up, aptly titled ‘140 Characters’, will take place at The Mill, Ulverston, on Tuesday 23 March.

Tweet Ups are fun Meet Ups for people who love to use Twitter and other forms of social media. The idea is to meet your online friends and have a good time finding out more about each other.

The last event was held at The Mill in February. It was attended by Barrow’s Labour candidate John Woodcock, CancerCare and LakesTV, amongst numerous other Twitter fanatics.

Kay Hebbourn, organiser of the event, has been amazed by the level of interest. She said: “Following the success of the last Tweet Up, which was the biggest in Cumbria, we have decided to have another and would love anyone who loves social media to come.

It's an excuse for a bit of a social, and to find out what everyone else is up to.”

There will be a variety of prizes up for grabs, and also charity donation opportunities.

Award-winning photographer Lesley Wood will be donating a particularly special prize to one lucky Twitterer. She explains: “I will give the winner a free photo-shoot. It will be for half a day, at your home or an outdoor location of your choice.”

Lesley is currently the “UK Pet Photographer of the Year” and specialises in portraiture of people with or without their animals. She is currently based in Cheshire, but is due to relocate to Ulverston this year.

The Evening Mail will be there to cover the event, which has already attracted interest from all over the UK.

Music and nibbles will be provided by The Mill, who will also be donating a special prize to a winner drawn from a hat.

Plans are still in the pipeline to introduce a Twestival to the area, later on in the year. This will be a whole weekend of events, meet-ups and fundraising.

Everyone is welcome to join in the fun – even those who haven’t yet become captivated by Twitter. The event is due to start at 5pm on Tuesday 23 March.

Move Over, Google

How fantastic would it be to go back in time?

Using the knowledge you have today, you could invent things before they have been invented, write things before they have been written, and create things before they have been created.

You could become a millionaire overnight.

How great would it be to go back six years and advertise your business on Google!?

Far less competition and you could deploy marketing techniques unheard of for the time. Your ads would be infinitely more targeted, way more inventory, convert better, and cost far less than Google Adwords do today.

Today, you have four options to choose from.

See if you can spot the best one:

1. Hire an SEO expert. For around $2000, you can assign the services of an internet marketing ‘guru’. For this costly figure, the guru will fill your website with keywords and eventually help to fire your website up to the top page of Google.

2. Manual Labour Traffic. This is just as it sounds. Lots of work, lots of commitment. Through article marketing, blogging, press releases, social media, podcasting, video marketing etc, you can help fire yourself to the top of Google. This can be a long, often unrewarding challenge.


3. Do nothing – in which case you’re just someone in a suit, sitting in an office, hoping for the best. Good luck with that.

4. You can go back in time. More or less. How? Facebook.

Facebook Ads.

Facebook ads are the single most bankable source of traffic on the web today. Google admits this. Google even fears this. Facebook is a genuine competitor of Google.

With an astonishing 39 billion page views every month, your adverts on Facebook are infinitely more targeted, way more inventory, convert better and cost far less than Google Adwords.

Now is the time to market your business on Facebook. Facebook currently has only 1/20th of the advertisers that Google has.

What’s more, Facebook ads are easy to use and set-up, cheap and ultra targeted like you won’t believe.

Think about all the information that people provide Facebook with. Age, sex, hobbies, location, education, interests etc etc etc. Facebook ads work for practically ANY market.

With the quick set-up page for Facebook ads, you create your own advert in seconds, and within just a few more seconds, you can actively target your advert to ultra specific targeted prospects. You can select the age group, location, education etc of who you want to target, and Facebook even tells you how many people will have access to your advert.

It is like being back on Google six years ago.

Customer Service Enters the 21st Century

How can you use Facebook and Twitter to substantially boost your business?

The extent to which Social Networking and Social Media websites are used is spiralling almost out of control. Hundreds of millions of people from all over the world are now logged on to these interactive websites. That’s a lot of potential customers, right?

There are still some very stern and astute marketers out there who believe you cannot make profit from the use of Facebook, Twitter or YouTube. I for one, am pretty pleased to be in competition with them.

With consummate ease you can find masses of people who are interested in the services you have to offer.

People buy from people.

It is so easy to interact with and meet new people.

‘People’ means ‘Customers’!

Establishing relationships with contacts on Twitter and Facebook is the equivalent of providing great customer service in your business place. The whole point in providing great customer service is to establish a relationship with the potential customer.

The first thing that crosses the mind of a customer in a purchasing situation is: “Do I want to do business with this person?” If the sales person is stroppy, has a bad manner, or has no time for the customer’s individual needs – then the answer will be a firm “No”.

By being polite, friendly, helpful and informative, the salesperson develops a relationship with the customer. They are more likely to want to do business with this person than they are with anybody else.

The same rule applies online. However, online, it is much, much easier.

Social Media is all based on relationships. There is no point in being on Facebook if you have nobody to interact with.

Social marketing is based on the relationship you have with your followers, prospects and customers. You cannot create a website and create a Twitter account and then expect for sales to shoot up. You have to work at it over a period of time – gaining followers and gaining trust.

People love to feel connected. It is part of human nature to feel like you want to be part of a group and have connections with like-minded people. Therefore most people will be responsive to your outreach of wanting to make a connection with them. Obviously you can’t just bombard them with “buy my product buy my product buy my product” – you have to work at building a relationship and building that level of trust.

Comment on what they are tweeting, help them when they ask questions and ask them plenty in return; let them know that you need their help and encouragement. Let them know that you trust them; this will make it an easier decision for them to trust you in return.

In addition to the theory that you cannot constantly be “throwing” your products in the faces of customers (“buy my product buy my product”), it is important to remember the one basic rule.

The number one rule:

People buy from people.

Do I want to do business with this person?

Relationship is key. You must build a relationship with customers first. And during. And after.

Generally, about 80% of your tweets, messages and interactions must be social. These are social networking sites after all. Don’t barrage potential customers with products. It will scare them away.

You need to show them that you are human. You are normal. You are just like them. You can help them. How? “Oh, I notice you need some help with your business…I think I may be able to help you there.”

Only 20% of your outgoings on social networking websites should be marketing based. It’s all about who you are, and not what you are offering. People go on these websites to connect and form relationships. Let them do this with you, and they will be much more likely to trust you when they have a business requirement.

As an extension to online relationships, Tweet Ups have formed all over the world, giving the chance for users of social networking websites to meet up and get to know each other in person. This forms a great opportunity to gain real trust with your contacts.

If you get a chance to attend a Tweet Up in your area, this is a perfect way to introduce yourself to the people you have been making friends with online.

People buy from people, remember.

Importance of Article Marketing

Your business needs uplifting.

You have done exactly as the internet marketing guys have told you.

You’ve created a website, got your business on Facebook and even created a Twitter account.

Now just sit back and watch the sales and the profits go through the roof.

Right?

You’re certainly on the right path, but you must remember the number one rule that has stood the test of time throughout the history of marketing, sales and business –:

People buy from people

You have taken the right step forward by creating a website for your business, but what use is this if you have no traffic coming to your website? Traffic increases sales. There are no two ways about this.

You have got to prove to the world (potential customers) that you are human, just like them, and that you know what you are talking about, you care for your customers and you are always on hand to help them.

You have got to be credible; you have got to be trustworthy.

This is where Article Marketing kicks in.

Marketing is everywhere. It is in everything. Marketing rules our consuming world.

When a person wants to purchase something online, they search for it. They go to Google, type in their desired product and, generally, click on either of the first few options that come up on Google.

You want Your website to come at the top of this list. This gains traffic. This increases sales. Sales mean profits. This is the ultimate goal, right?

There are various methods that internet marketers use to increase the popularity of websites, but how can you do it?

Search engines are filled with Spiders that scan websites looking for the most relevant information in relation to the original Google search.

In order to come across as ‘relevant’ to these Spiders, you must possess as much relevant information, key words and phrases as possible.

Writing articles, blogs and newsletters increases your word count (helping the Spiders) and allows you to publish your writing on various websites (again, making life easier for Spiders). Always remember to put back-links to your website on every article.

By constantly writing and updating articles, people will see that you are credible and believable. They will trust that you are putting time and effort into your business, and with so many articles out there – you clearly know what you are talking about.

There are various article marketing strategies you should use to improve your online presence. You can go down the email marketing route, the direct marketing route or, well, practically any marketing route you can think of.

The important thing is to have as many articles as possible all over the internet. You must write concisely and in a conversational tone (again, it adds to you being human, as oppose to being ANOTHER business website machine). Always include your name and bio. A bio is not a life story; it is your name, web address and your unique selling proposition – why should people visit your website, why should they buy from you?

Internet marketing articles are different pieces about your business. Do you own a restaurant? Write an article about your speciality meal – publish it all over the internet, put back links to your website.

Offer to send out a monthly newsletter and email it to people who sign up.

If it is good, people will visit your website.

If your website is good, people will buy your product.

If your product is good, people will tell their friends, family and peers.

You cannot avoid business marketing.

More and more people are cottoning on to this, making a single website increasingly difficult to find its way to the top of Google. Therefore, the importance of article marketing is essential. If your articles (therefore your back links to your website) can be found on scores of different websites, then this can only increase awareness and presence of your business.

Advertise on Facebook and Twitter that you have published a new article. Make the article fun and interesting to read. Make people look forward to reading the next one.

People might come across your article now and not be interested in your product – but make sure they remember you, your name and your business, the next time they DO want to buy your product.

People buy from people.

Always remember this.

Donating to Haiti, via Effective Copywriting

We have all been deeply saddened by the horrifying events in Haiti. A series of massive earthquakes has taken the lives of thousands of Haitians. It has devastated and destroyed the lives of millions more.

Families being torn apart by disaster is something we see unfold on the News all too often. The Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, earthquakes in Pakistan and Italy, and now it’s Haiti’s turn to suffer and endure the wrath of mother nature.

All of these events have led to hugely generous donations from people all over the world. Appeals are made in newspapers, on television and by charities, all urging You to give generously to people in desperate need. While these have been successful campaigns to help raise funds for victims, there are still far too many people who are not actively lending their support.

This is not necessarily people who are unwilling to donate, but more likely people who are unaware of how they can donate. In today’s modern society of mobile phones and social media, the internet has become an increasingly popular way to appeal directly to everyone who has the ability to donate.

Many of the most popular websites on the internet have launched their own appeals for the cause. Facebook, Google and eBay, to name but a few, have all added ‘donation links’ to their Home Pages – making it easy to find, somewhat unavoidable in some cases.

A similar theme has been set up by the American Red Cross – donators simply text ‘HAITI’ to 20222 – and $10 is automatically added to their phone bill, going directly to the relief fund.

Adding donation links to popular websites is one thing, but how exactly does this make donating appealable to as many people as possible. Are the general rules of copywriting obeyed in the same format to a piece of sales copy? After all, it is the same basic concept – persuading a reader to part with their cash. Is the language different? How are key words and emotive words used to attract the attention of the wider audience?

Facebook
The most popular social networking site on the web, with around 321 million people registered worldwide. Their Haiti appeal is very open, thoughtful and most notable for me, personifying.

General emails and contact from Facebook are very generic, obviously sent out in bulk, with little emotion or personifying key words. This is of no detriment to Facebook – the whole point in the website is for its users to interact with each other, Facebook merely acts as the host.

The devastation in Haiti, however, has given Facebook reason to speak directly to each and every user. The appeal is not aimed to be a generic email which will blend in with all the others. It serves a different purpose, an important purpose, and it has to come across as speaking directly from the heart and to each user personally.

This is achieved by using power words such as: ‘destruction’, ‘death’, ‘outpouring’ and ‘thousands’. These words are unusual for Facebook, so stand out in peoples minds – it proves the sheer scale of the atrocity. It is basically saying: ‘something has to be done, and this is Your chance to help’.

Google
In the early days of Google, there were very few words on the home Page: ‘Google’, ‘Search’ and ‘I feel lucky’. With the immense popularity of Google, this has inevitably changed. There is now Google mail, Google Ads, blogging options and a range of other services displayed on the Home Page.

However, there are still very few words, and the page is dominantly filled with white space, making any new or additional text stand out. There is currently a link under the main search box which states:

‘Information, resources, and ways you can help survivors of the Haiti earthquake.’

By clicking on this link you are taken to a donation page which is titled: ‘Crisis Response’.

While the actual copy is not as personable or emotive as the Facebook page, it is still very effective. There is a brief description reminding of the magnitude of the earthquake, and also a line in bold which reads:

‘Google will also donate $1 million’.

This being highlighted shows the enormity of what has happened, and the importance to give whatever you can to the relief funds.

The main selling point of the page is the two links where you can donate. There are two options to choose from: Oxfam or Unicef. You simply enter the amount in £’s that you want to donate, and click ‘donate’. Very simple, very effective and very clever.

The point in providing two charities to choose from is a clever tool in itself. Obviously, both will use your money to help in Haiti, but they will both be doing different things. A brief description of what the charities will be using your money for is supplied under the logo. Oxfam will be concentrating on providing shelter and clean water – Unicef will be concentrating on food and medical supplies, with particular emphasis on children.

The work being carried out by both charities is essential to the people of Haiti. While one is providing water, the other is providing food – people will realise that they must contribute to both charities to give the best support possible.

The charities are not working against each other – they are working with each other to do the best for the people of Haiti.

Clever marketing technique? Effective copywriting? Yes and yes.

Who benefits? The people of Haiti.

EBay
EBay takes quite a different approach. Whereas Google is very plain, simple and generous, eBay, in my opinion, attempts to use the donation link as a way to boost its own profits.

Is this unethical? Or is it just clever business?

EBay is encouraging people to donate up to 100% of their Sale profits to the Haiti fund. This encourages people to place products on eBay to raise funds for donation. It also persuades people to buy products so that their money can be donated, whilst getting something in return for themselves (the product purchased).

While this is great for the relief effort in Haiti – what it’s all about – for every item placed onto eBay, eBay makes a profit. Insertion fee, and then a final value fee.

There is the encouragement for people to use eBay more (as it helps people in Haiti), and at the same time, eBay itself is making a profit from the additional auctions.

I must stress, though, that eBay does supply a ‘Donate via PayPal’ link. EBay is also the only site out of the three to include emotive images. Images of the devastation – people can see what they are donating for. They do not have to read, actions often do speak louder than words.

The text they use, although shorter in length, is very similar to that of Facebook: ‘destruction’, ‘critical’ and ‘mass devastation’ are strong attempts to tug on the heartstrings of potential donators.

Conclusion
So, has clever copywriting been involved in the making of the various donation links? Each has clearly been well thought through. How they layout the page, how they format their sentences and how they use emotive language has all been done carefully.

Each has applied a different technique to really draw in the donator. Facebook concentrated on appearing personal to the user through terms such as: ‘Dear friends’ and pronouns such as ‘we’ and ‘you’. The main invigorator, however, is the use of terms to describe what is going on in Haiti: ‘death’ and ‘destruction’.

Google appears very simple and easy to use and understand. This will have broader appeal to a wider, larger audience. In showing that Google themselves are donating $1 million, it shows just how important it is to give as much as you can, as the people of Haiti are in desperate need.

EBay uses a mixture of emotive language and images, and also has various options on how you can donate. This is an attempt to attract a wider audience – donate through buying, selling or directly through PayPal – but also sees a good marketing opportunity.

All have used proven copywriting techniques, however, the focus is much more on what they are donating for, as oppose to the benefits that the donator will get in return. While this goes against the number one rule of sales copy – people only want to know what is in it for them – it has undoubtedly proved a successful way of obtaining donations to the people of Haiti.